Former Theodosia resident sentenced for beating dad to death

Christopher Greenough, a former Theodosia resident who had been living in West Plains for the last several years, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter during a July 25 disposition hearing in Howell County. The plea deal with the state reduced the original charge of second-degree murder.

Greenough, a 2007 Lutie High School graduate, will receive credit for time served and is required to pay all court costs.

The case stems from a violent domestic incident that occurred on Jan. 11, 2023, when Greenough allegedly killed his father, David Greenough, during a dispute at their West Plains residence.

According to court documents, the 911 call from that day came from a man who sounded intoxicated and reported a 60- or 64-year-old man with a nosebleed. The caller was agitated and struggled to give the dispatcher an address, the report says.

When emergency responders arrived, Greenough answered the door and questioned their presence. He then went outside to write down the responder’s license plate number, but returned moments later, saying he had forgotten a pen. 

The responder noted that Greenough had visible blood on his hands, chest, stomach and pants. When asked if he was the injured party, Greenough said no and refused to let the responder see the victim. 

Howell County Sheriff’s Department authorities were then called. A Howell County deputy arrived and observed Greenough covered in blood through a window. When the deputies announced their presence, Greenough told them a warrant was needed to enter. A deputy forced entry and demanded to see the injured individual. Greenough is said to have responded with an expletive and ran through the house with the deputy in pursuit.

Inside the home, the deputy found a large amount of blood on the floor and David Greenough lying face-down in a large chair. 

As the officer approached, Christopher Greenough reportedly jumped into the chair, causing his father’s body to fall onto the floor.

Greenough was subdued and taken into custody. David Greenough was still alive at the time but later died from his injuries after being transported to Ozarks Healthcare hospital in West Plains.

Authorities say that David’s 97-year-old hearing impaired mother was also inside the home at the time of the incident. She told investigators that Christopher had been drinking all day. She said around 5:30 p.m., she took out her hearing aids and went to bed, unaware of what had happened afterward.